As heare how the Holy Ghost delivers it Psal 109. As he loved cursing so shall it come unto him and as he loved not blessing so shall it be farre from him As hee cloathed himselfe with cursing like a garment so shall it come into his bowels like water and like oyle into his bones let it be unto him as a garment to cover him and for a girdle wherewith he shall alwaies be girded ver 17 18 19. Here this all ye whose tongues tunne so fast one the devills arrand you loved cursing you shall have it both upon you about you and in you and that everlastingly if you persereve and goe on for Christ himselfe at the last day even he which came to save the world shall say unto all such depart from me ye cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the Devill and his Angells Mat. 25.41 Where they shall doe nothing but curse for evermore for they no farther apprehending the goodnesse mercy and bounty of God then by the sense of their owne torments the effects of his justice shall hate him and hating him they shall curse him Revel 16.11.21 They suffer and they blaspheme there is in them a furious malice against him being cursed of him they recurse him they curse him for making them curse him for condemning them curse him because being ajudged to death they can never finde death they curse his punishments because they are so unsufferable curse his mercies because they may never tast them curse the blood of Christ shed on the Crosse becuse it hath satisfied for milions and done their unbeleeving soules no good curse the Angells and Saints in heaven because they see them in joy and themselves in torment Cursings shall be their sins and their chiefe ease Blasphemies their Prayers Lacrimae their notes Lamentation all their harmony these shall be their evening songes their morning songs their mourning songs for ever ever And indeede who shall go to hell if cursers should be left out Wherefore let all those learne to blesse that looke to be heirers of the blessing Swearer O But God is mercifull and Christ came into the world to save sinners witnesse the Theefe upon the Crosse who was heard by him at the last houre Messenger I grant the Lord is exceeding mercifull and gratious flow to anger and abundant in goodnesse and truth keeping mercy for thousands forgiving iniquity transgression and sinne for he proclaimes himselfe so Exod. 34.6 7. But he will by no meanes cleare the ungodly but visit the iniquitie of their fathers upon their children and upon their childrens children unto the third and fourth generation as it followes in the very same verse Yea he will reward the wicked according to their workes Revel 20.12.13 and 22.12 Indeed a world of men beleeve with Orrigen that God is so mercifull that all shall be saved they presume that God must needs save them because he made them without any other ground though in another fit they are as apt to dispayre to say with the same Origen should all other sinners obtaine mercy yet not I. Wicked men are altogether in extreames at first they make question whether this or that be a sinne at last they apprehend it such a sinne that they make question whether it can be forgiven Either God is so mercifull that they may live how they list or so just that he will not pardon them upon their repentance No meane with them between the rock of presumption and the gulfe of dispayer But the tenure of the word of God runs thus Let the wicked forsake his wayes and the unrighteous his own imaginations and returne unto the Lord and he will have mercy upon him and to our God for he is very ready to forgive As Esay hath it Chap. 55 7. And that we should not doubt of this the Lord redoubles his promise Ezek. 18. And confirmes the same with an oath Chap. 33.11 Yea he is more ready to shew mercy upon our repentance then we are to beg it as appeares in the example of the Prodigall Sonne Luke 15.20 Doe but repent and God will pardon you bee your sinnes never so many and innumerable for multitude never so haynous for qualitie and magnitude for repentance is alwayes blest with forgivenesse Yea sinnes upon repentance are so remitted as if they had never beene committed I have put away thy transgressions as a cloud and thy sinnes as a mist Esay 44.22 And what by corruption hath beene done by repentance is undone as a bundance of examples witnesse Hee pardoned Davids Murther and Adultery Solomons Idolatry Peters Apostacy Paul did not only deny Christ but persecuted him yet he obtained mercy upon his repentance yea amongst the worst of Gods enemies some are singled out for mercy witnesse Manasses Mary Magdalen the Theefe c. Many of the Jewes did not onely deny Christ the holy one and the just but crucified him yet were they pricked in there hearts at Peters Sermon gladly received the word were baptized Act. 2.41 But on the other side unlesse we repent and amend our lives we shall all perish as Christ himselfe affirmes Luk. 13.3.5 For though mercy rejoyceth against justice Iam 2.13 yet it destroyeth not God justice he is just as well as mercifull his mercy is a just mercy and his justice is not an unmercifull justice he is infinite in both and therefore in his word he hath equally promised all blessings spirituall temporall and eternall unto those that keepe his commandements and threatned all mannor of judgements to those that break them with their severall extreames according to the measure degree of every sin Deut. 28. which chapter together with the former I wish thee to reade if thou wilt know thy selfe and foreknow thy judgement Neither is salvation more promised to the godly then eternall death and destruction is threatned to the wicked both in the old and new Testament And as Christ is a Saviour so Moses is an accuser Iohn 5.45 Alasse though to all repentant sinners he is amost mercifull God yet to wilfull and inpenitente sinners hee is a consuming fire Heb. 12.29 Deut. 4.24 Doth not the Apostle say that neither fornecators nor idolaters nor adulterers nor buggerers nor theeves nor coveteous nor drunkards nor raylers nor extortioners to which number Saint Iohn Revel 21.8 addeth the fearefull and unbeleeving murtherers and sorserers and all lyers shall not inherit the Kingdome of God but shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone which is the second death 1. Cor. 6.9 10. Gal. 5.21 And doth he not likewise affirme that all they shall bee damned which beleeved not the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousnesse 2 Thes 2.12 doth not the Lord say Ier. 16.13 that he will have no mercy for such as are deseparately wicked and againe Deut. 29.19.20 That if any man blesse himself in his heart saying I shall have peace although I walke according to the
yea be yea and your nay nay least you fall into condemnation James 5.12 Where marke the Emphasis in the first words Above all things sware not and the great danger of it in the last word condemnation If the matter be light vaine we must not sweare at all if so waighty that we may lawfully sweare as before a Magistrate being called to it then we must only use the glorious name of our God in a holy religious mannor as you may see Deut. 6.13 Isa 45.23 65.16 Josh 23.7 Ier. 5.7 Exod. 23.13 And the reasons of it are waighty if we look into them for in swaring by any creature whatsoever wee doe invocate that creature and ascibe to it divine worship a lawfull oath being a kind of invocation and a part of Gods worship Yea whatsoever wee sweare by that we invocate both as our witnesse surety and judge Heb. 6.16 and by consequence deifie it by ascribing communicating unto it Gods incommunicable atributes as his omnipresents and omnisiencie of being every where present and knowing the secret thoughts and intentions of the heart and likewise an omnipotency as being almighty in patronising protecting defending and rewarding us for speaking the truth or punishing us if we speake falsly All which are so peculiar to God as that they can no way be communicated or ascribed to another So that in swaring by any of those things thou committest an heigh degree of grosse Idollatry thou spoylest and robbest God of his glory the most impious kind of theft and in a manner dethronest him and placest an Idoll in his roome And as to sweare by the creature makes the sin far more haynous so the more meane and vile the thing is which you sweare by be it by my fey by cocke and pie hares foote by this cheese and such like childish oaths which are so much in use with the ignorant and superstitious swarme the greater is your sinne in swearing such an oath because you ascribe that unto these basest of creatures which is only proper to God namely to know your heart and to be a deseruer of secret things why else should you call that creature as a witnesse unto your conscience that you speake the truth and lye not which only belongeth to God And therefore the Lord calls it a forsaking of him as marke well what he saith Jer 5.7 How shall I spare thee for this thy children have forsaken me and sworne by them that are no Gods Exod. 23.13 And doe you make it a small matter to forsake God and make a God of the creature Will you beleeve the Prophet Amos. If you will he saith speaking of them that swore by the sin of Samaria that they shall fall and never rise againe Amos 8.14 a terrible place to vaine swarers Neither are we to joyne any other with God in our oaths for in so doing we make base Idolls and filthy creatures corrivalls in honour and competitors in the throne of justice with the Lord who is creator of heaven and earth and the supreame judge and sole Monnarke of all the world Or in case we doe our doome shall be remedilesse for the Lord threatneth by the Prophet Zephany that he will cut off them that sweare by the Lord and by Maulcham which Maulcham was there King or as some thinke their Idoll Zeph. 1.4.5 But admit the sinne were small as you would have it to be yet the circomstances make it most hainous for even the least sinne in its owne nature is not only mortall but unpardonable so long as it is willingly committed and excused or defended Swarer But all doe sweare except some few singular ones and they also will lye which is as bad Messenger You must not measure all others by your owne Bushell for although ill dispositions cause ill suspitions even as the eye that is bloodshot sees all things red or as they that have the Jaunders see all things yellow yet know that there be thousands who can say truly through Gods mercy that they had rather choose to have their soules passe from their bodies then a willfull premeditated lye or a wicked oath from their mouths wherefore when you want experience thinke the best as charity bids you and leave what you know not to the searcher of hearts As for the number of swearers it cannot be denied but the sinne is almost universall and this is it which hath insensed Gods wrath almost brought an universal destruction upon our whole Nation But is not this excuse that others doe so a most reasonlesse plea and only becomming a foole when our Saviour Christ hath plainly told us that the greatest number goe the broade way to distruction and but a few the narrow way which leadeth unto life Mat. 7.13.14 and St. Iohn that the whole world lyeth in wickednesse 1 Iohn 5.19 And that the number of those whom Satan shall deceive is as the sand of the Sea Revelat. 20.8 and 13.16 Isay 10.22 Rom. 9.27 And tell me were it a good plea to commit a fellony and say that others doe so Or wilt thou leape into hell and cast away thy soule because others doe so A sorry comfort it will be to have a numerous multitude accoompany us into that lake of fier that nver shall be quenched Besides it is Gods expresse charge Exod. 23.2 Thou shalt not follow a multitude to doe evill and St. Paules everlasting rule Rom. 12.2 Fashion not your selves like unto this world Swarer But I may lawfully sweare so I affirme nothing but the truth Messenger If you be lawfully called to it as before a Magistrate or when some urgent matter constraineth for the confirming of a necessary truth which can by no other lawful meanes be cleared and for the ending of al contentions and controversies and clearing our own or our neighbours good name person or estate and to put an end unto all strife ayming at Gods glory and our owne or our neighbours good which is the only use and end of an oath in which case a man is rather a patient then a voluntary agent You may sweare otherwise not Neither must we sweare at all in our ordinary communication if we will obay Gods word as you may see Mat. 5.34.35 36 37. Iames 5.12 Swarer Except I sweare men will not beleeve me Messenger Thou hadst as good say I have so often made shipwrack of my credit by accustomary lying that I can gaine no beleefe unto my words without an oath for it argues a guilty conscience of the want of credit and that our word alone is worth no respect when it will not be taken without a paune or surety Neither will any but basâ— banquerouts pawne so pretious a jewel as their faith for every small trifle Besides he that often sweareth not seldome forsweareth And so I have informed you from Gods word what the danger is of vaine and wicked swearing Now if you either beleeve the scriptures or desire to escape that dyerful
of Jesus Christ lie open to receive you Whiles you have health and life and meanes and time to repent and make your peace with God in Christ as you tender I say the everlasting hapinesse and well-farre of your almost lost and drowned soule as you expect or hope for grace or mercy for joy and comfort for heaven and salvation for endlesse blisse and glory at the last As you would escape the dyerfull wroth of God the bitter sentence doom of Christ the neverdying sting worme of conscience the tormenting soule scorching flames of hel everlasting seperation from Gods blisful presents abjure utterly renouÌ„ce all willfull and affected evill in the first place this abominable sin of swearing cursing Fourthly If thou wouldest hould out in thy good purposes and bring thy thoughts to the birth fly evill company for feare of infection because it is exceeding hard and difficult not to fall into those sinnes unto which the eyes and the eares are inured It is rare if with Peter we deny not Chrst in Caiphas his house With Soloman we shall find that it is hard having the Egyptian without her Idols Yea be as carefull to avoide all the occsions of sinne as sinne it selfe and not now and then but continually Fiftly Be dilligent to heare Gods word powrfully preached which is the sword of the spirit that killeth our corruptions and that unresistable cannon shot which beateth and batteeth downe the strong houlds of sinne and Satan Sixtly Ponder and meditate seriously on Gods inestemable love towards us who hath not spared to give his only beloved sonne out of his bosome to dye for us and to purchase thereby every good thing we do injoy either for soule or body even to the least bit of bread we eate this will make thee if thou hast any ingenuiety to direct all thy thoughts speeches and actious to his glory as he hath directed thy eternall salvation thereunto and often force thee to breake out into this or the like expression What shall I render unÌ„to thee O Lord for all thy benefits but love thee my Creator and become a new creature Seventhly Consider that the Lord beholdeth thee in all places and in every thing thou doest even as the eyes of a well drawne picture are fastned on thee which way so ever thou turnest Yea consider him as a just judge who will not let this cursed sin goe unpunished and this will make thee keepe a narrower watch over thy thoughts then any other can do over thy actions Eightly and lastly But chiesly and principally Omit not to pray for the asistance of Gods spirit otherwise thy strength is small yea except God give thee repentance and removes all impediments that may hinder thou canst no more turne thy selfe then thou couldest at first make thy selfe We are not sufficient of our selves to thinke much lesse to speake least of all to doe ought that is good 2 Cor. 3.5 Iohn 15.4 5. We are swift to all evill but to any good immovable Wherefore beg of God that he will give you a new heart and when the heart is changed all the members will follow after it as the rest of the creatures after the sun when it ariseth Importune him for grace that thou maiest firmely resolve speedily begin and continually persevere in doeing and suffering his holy will Desire him to informe and reforme thee so that thou maiest neither misbeleeve nor mislive To regenerate thy heart change and purifie thy nature subdue thy reason rectifie thy judgement reforme and strengthen thy will renew thy affections and beate downe in thee whatsoever stands in opposition to the septer of Jesus Christ In a word to give and increase in thee all christian graces that thou maiest know and beleeve and repent and amend and persevere in well doeing not forgetting that prayer is the key of heaven Doe this use the meanes and looke up for assistance Imitate the Matriner who in sayling sets his handâ—â—o the sterne his eye to the starre and my soule for thine thou art in the direct way to arâ—â— at the port of eternall glory Only this let â—e add Be sure you wholy and only rest on your Saviour Jesus Christ for salvation abhorring to attribute or ascribe ought to doing for our very righteousnesses are as filthy raggs Esay 64.5 And the sole prefection of a christian is the imputation of Christs righteousnesse and the not imputation of his owne unrighteousnesse a rule which we are very apt to swarve from either on the right or left hand wherefore if you would not err observe this goulden mean indeavour to live as if there were no Gospel to die as if ther were no law And now for conclusion If thou receivest any power against this greatevill forget not to be thankefull and when God hath the fruit of his mercys he will not spare to sow much where he reapes much Many may shew you the way better but none canshew you a better way and so having set before you life and death I leave you to choose which of them you like best Swearer I see you are a Puritane Messenger And why not Roundhead the name last coyned in the Devills mint I confesse formerly the word was Puritane because it was a capitall crime to be religious but now it is Roundhead a terme of a larger extent that men may not only be ashamed to serve God and be saved but even fear to be so much as civill here you over shot your selfe But since the religious only are thornes in your eyes give me your reason Are all Puritains that love not swearing if so I am one indeed if not define what you meane by the name Swearer Tell not me of diffinitions for I am no scholler but I hate a Puritaine Messenger It appeares indeed you were never a puple of Christ teaching though you call your selfe after his name Or if so you have forgot your first lesson for he tells you in his word that the feare of God which I am sure you want is the very beginning of wisedome Pro 1.7 Swearer How know you that I have not the feare of God I blesse his name I feare him as well as you and have as good an heart as the best theugh I make not such a shew as many doe but all Puritains are thus sencorious whereas the Scripture saith Iudge not that yee be not judged for with what judgement yee judge yee shall be judged Mat. 7.1 2. Messenger Our Saviour in that place condemnes judging of our brotherfor motes or some sodain eruptions or appearances only or determining of his finall estate which makes nothing for habitruated swearers untill they repent neither doe I determine of yourfuture estate I know God can with a word of his mouth create in you a new heart and that it is as easie with him to make a man religious as to bid him be such But touching the present I may more then